09-05-2025
Michigan 'thrills n wheels' top Readers' Choice Awards. 5 attractions to check out
Five Michigan locations featuring "Thrills 'n' Wheels" have received recognition in USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards for 2025.
The Battle Creek Field of Flight air show, Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Detroit Boat Show, Woodward Dream Cruise and Michigan International Speedway all were selected among the best places for car, air and boat enthusiasts.
Here's a look at the top 10 in each category, and how Michigan attractions ranked:
1. Airshow London (London, Ontario)
2. Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's World War II Weekend (Reading, Pennsylvania)
3. Wings Over Houston Airshow (Houston, Texas)
4. Battle Creek Field of Flight (Battle Creek, Michigan)
5. Cleveland National Air Show (Cleveland, Ohio)
6. Florida International Air Show (Punta Gorda, Florida)
7. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
8. San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show (San Francisco, California)
9. TBM Avenger Reunion (Peru, Illinois)
10. MCAS Miramar Air Show (San Diego, California
The Battle Creek Field of Flight, a midsummer aviation show and balloon festival, was considered the fourth-best air show among USA TODAY readers.
For five days, spectators enjoy air shows of military and civilian aircraft, a twilight and night air show (among the largest in the nation), fireworks, concerts, a carnival, and hot air balloon launches.
Field of Flight is an air show and balloon festival rolled into one — the largest of its kind in North America, USA TODAY noted.
1. Savoy Automobile Museum (Cartersville, Georgia)
2. National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
3. Revs Institute (Naples, Florida)
4. America's Transportation Experience / AACA Museum (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
5. National Automobile Museum (Reno, Nevada)
6. Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
7. Museum of American Speed (Lincoln, Nebraska)
8. Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation (Dearborn, Michigan)
9. Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles, California)
10. America's Car Museum (Tacoma, Washington)
Named the eighth-best attraction for car lovers, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation was started by one of the pioneers of the U.S automotive industry, Henry Ford, in 1929.
The museum exhibits include flight, railroad, agriculture and automobile showcases, highlighting innovation and ingenuity in the transportation industry.
1. Newport Beach International Boat Show (Newport Beach, California)
2. Palm Beach International Boat Show (West Palm Beach, Florida)
3. St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show (St. Petersburg, Florida)
4. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
5. Detroit Boat Show (Detroit, Michigan)
6. Newport International Boat Show (Newport, Rhode Island)
7. Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
8. Annapolis Sailboat Show (Annapolis, Maryland)
9. Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show (Miami, Florida)
10. San Diego International Boat Show (San Diego, California)
The Detroit Boat Show was listed No. 5 in the Best Boat Shows in the U.S.
It includes live music, educational workshops, boat driving simulators and of course, boats, ranging from 10 feet to 55 feet.
Additionally motors, boat accessories and trailers are available for purchase.
1. Cruisin' The Coast (Mississippi Gulf Coast)
2. Triple Crown of Rodding (Lebanon, Tennessee)
3. MSRA Back to the 50's Weekend (St. Paul, Minnesota)
4. The Amelia Concours d'Elegance (Amelia Island, Florida)
5. NSRA Street Rod Nationals (Louisville, Kentucky)
6. Renaissance Euro Fest (Ridgeland, Mississippi)
7. Iola Car Show (Iola, Wisconsin)
8. Woodward Dream Cruise (Detroit, Michigan)
9. Eastern Division AACA National Fall Meet (Hershey, Pennsylvania)
10. Hot August Nights (Reno, Nevada)
The 16-mile cruise fills Woodward Avenue on the third Saturday of every August.
In 1995, the Woodward Dream Cruise started as a small fundraiser to support a local soccer field.
Today, it's one of the largest one-day automotive event with some 40,000 classic cars and more than 1 million people gathering each August.
It ranks as the eighth-best car show in the U.S.
1. Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pennsylvania)
2. Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, New York)
3. Chicago Street Race (Chicago, Illinois)
4. Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, Nevada)
5. Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, Georgia)
6. New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, New Hampshire)
7. Dover Motor Speedway (Dover, Delaware)
8. Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn, Michigan)
9. Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee)
10. Talladega Superspeedway (Lincoln, Alabama)
NASCAR fans are familiar with the Michigan International Speedway, the wide 18-degree banks of the 2-mile raceway are located in the Irish Hills of the Wolverine State.
Ford-backed teams have historically dominated the track, but GM and Toyota have edged their way into Ford's territory and the race is as competitive as ever, according to USA TODAY.
Readers ranked the Michigan track No. 8 in the country.
The USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards highlights the very best travel, food, drink and lifestyle.
The panel includes industry experts who nominate their favorite attractions across a range of categories. Editors then vet the nominations and set a final list of nominees to be presented to the voting public.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Boat Show, Dream Cruise receive USA TODAY notice
